RHU manager Sam Gemmell said he was delighted with both the performance and the result as his team drew 1-1 away to Eaglesham.

An own goal early in the second half gave Rhu the advantage – and though the hosts threw everything at their visitors and drew level with 10 minutes left, the Rhu defence stood firm to secure a share of the spoils.

On a day that felt like the height of summer the visitors – again with a changed starting XI, and hampered by a no-show from one of the selected players ­– took the game to the more fancied home team and Strang and Jones came close to opening the scoring in the opening minutes of the game.

In fact the Rhu team belied their lowly league position by dominating most of the early possession however were unable to capitalise on their dominance.

As the first half progressed the hosts – who had inflicted Rhu’s biggest league defeat of the season earlier in the campaign – started to probe the Rhu defence but found Adams and Dods in the centre very difficult to break down with keeper Hawkes well protected by his defensive shield.

Chances for both teams were being kept to a minimum as both midfields tussled for every challenge – though Rhu had a narrow escape with ten minutes of the half remaining when Hawkes had to act smartly to push a shot on to the bar which was cleared from danger by the impressive Grant.

Just before the break Jones found himself with a great chance as the ball flew off the defenders head but a bad bounce took the ball away from goal and although he managed to get a shot in, the power wasn’t there to trouble the keeper.

The visitors started the second half as they’d begun the first, and their first attack bore fruit when Caldwell floated in a tempting ball right on top of the keeper, as per the coaching team’s instructions at half time, and in the panic the ball bounced off an Eaglesham body and rolled over the line.

But the goal seemed to spark the home side to life as they then dominated the remaining 40 minutes, with Rhu showing in attack only in occasional flashes.

One of those saw Ryan Jones sent through on a one to one with the keeper, but he was harshly ruled offside by the ref who failed to see the Eaglesham right back playing the Rhu man onside.

The visitors suffered a blow with 30 minutes to go when Alex Rennie had to come off with a hamstring injury with coach and sub for the day Russell Makeham coming on to replace the hard working midfielder.

Despite this setback the Rhu boys defended stoutly as Eaglesham turned up the heat – but they were beginning to creak, and the hosts’ pressure finally paid off when a dubiuos free kick from out wide was headed back across goal by Semple and into the net, just out of reach of Hawkes’ despairing dive.

Sensing a win, Eaglesham threw everything at the tiring Rhu team, but the visitors held firm to see out the game and a well-earned point.

Manager Gemmell said afterwards: “This was against a team who handed us our heaviest defeat earlier in the season and who probably felt all they had to do was turn up today.

“All the credit has to go to our lads who were excellent today and it would be fair to say should have had a two or three goal lead going in at half time.

“But Eaglesham came back strongly in the second half and it made for a very entertaining game.”

It’s back to home turf for Rhu this Saturday, April 2, as they host Calderglen at the DCF Park. Kick-off is at 2pm.

Squad: Hawkes, McKell, Laird, Adams, Dods, Grant, Gorman, Rennie, Caldwell, Jones, Strang, Makeham, Gemmell.